Commissioner Letter Draws Opponent Ire

March 17, 1985|By Kelly Leon, staff Writer

MARGATE — A letter written by Commissioner David McLean asking residents to support him in last Tuesday`s election is drawing the ire of at least one of his opponents because the letter was mailed at city expense and written on city stationery.

McLean said there was nothing illegal about the letter. ``With me being a commissioner, I felt I was entitled to send a letter to the citizens,`` he said.

He said he believes the letter was in good taste because it thanked citizens for the support they gave him in last November`s election along with asking for their support in Tuesday`s election.

The letter says, ``I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in the last election and look forward to the same support in the upcoming election of March 12, 1985.``

McLean said he could have sent the letter out at an earlier date but because he was sick shortly after winning his seat in November and because of holiday activities shortly after that race, he felt that he had chosen the best time to send the letter.

Franklin, who finished fourth behind McLean in the six-way race for two commission seats, said he plans to take his time looking into the matter to determine if the letter is a violation of any campaign election laws.

McLean`s letter does not violate any city laws or ordinances, according to City Attorney Eugene Steinfeld.

Steinfeld called determining the legality of the letter ``a gray area.``

He said, ``I, or any member of the administration cannot censor what a city commissioner sends to his constituents`` but he added, ``there is no doubt in my mind that private matters cannot be attended to with city resources.``

According to City Clerk Shirley Baughman, McLean sent out 48 letters to presidents of various organizations throughout the city.

She said a secretary in her office spent about 45 minutes working on the mailing which included typing one master copy of the letter, making 48 copies of it and addressing 48 envelopes.

The city picked up the 22-cent postage charge on each letter, Baughman said.

She said the total cost to the city was minimal. McLean estimated the total cost at no more than $40.